Race game apparatus



P. G. KENNEDY 2,026,181

RACE GAME APPARATUSv Filed March 16, 1953 Dec. 31,

\ 4 Sheets-Sheet l P. G. KENNEDY RACE GAME APPARATUS Filed March 16,V1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw F .5. 22, M1

Dec. 31, 1935. P, Q KENH-:ENh 2,026,181

i RACE GAME APPARATUS- Filed March 16, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EY VMMM'AIbm muy Dec. 31, 1935. P. G. KENNEDY RACE GAME APPARATUS Filed March 16,1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 atentecl Dec. 31', 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE i Application March 16, 1933, Serial No. 661,062 In vG rreatBritain May 12 1932 14 claims. (ol. 4672,11)

rIfhis invention relates to apparatus for 'use in race games and moreparticularly to thosewhich ,employ miniature automobiles or likeself-propelled vehicles.

Apparatus of the said kind includes a` plurality of tracks orguide-waysl and a plurality of ,miniature electrically-drivenautomobiles or the Tlike adapted to be guided by said tracks. One objectof the present invention is the provision of race gaine apparatus bywhich the excite- ;'nient and interest assciated with motor car racingis capable of reproduction in an inexpensive manner. For the vehicles tobe effective in their `reproduction of motor car racing, it is necessaryfor them to be capable of traversing the tracks 4,at high speeds and ofexecuting lateral sideslips or skids when negotiating the curves orcorners with which the track is provided.

The provision of vehicles which meet the` aboverecited conditions isanother object of the present invention and this object is attained bythe provision of improved self guiding means by Awhich the front of thevehicle is held to its course l,notwithstanding the lateral movements ofthe rear of the vehicle under the influence of centrifugal force. Suchforce may operate to skid the vehicle to the right or to the left of the.track viewed in the direction of travel and an 'essential part of myinvention consists in guiding means which engage the guide-way so thatthe restraining or constraining function is exercised whether thelateral force be exerted to lmove the vehicle to the right or to theleft relative to the track, such characteristic being referred to inythe appended claims as bi-lateral. I n combination with guiding meansconstructed to operate in the manner described, I employ means forsupplying electric current to the motor of the vehicle arranged tomaintain contact ,with conductor rails during slewing movements bf therear of the vehicle and allow the driving force applied to the reardriving wheels to be continued undiminished. Means of articulationbetween the front axle and the vehicle structure are adapted to bringabout a slowing of the vehicle when slewing occurs under the influenceof centrifugal force on curves or corners, by allowing the rear wheelsto contact with the guideway.

lThe invention further consists in the novel combinations of partsYdescribed in the annexed specification, illustrated in the` accompanyingdrawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Torfaciltate a clear understanding ofl the invention, I have appendedhereto four explanatory sheets of drawings whereinr- Figure 1 is a p artsectional elevation of a miniature automobile incorporating the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in Figure l with the upperpart of the body removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation looking from the front of the front axleassembly included in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 3 with the steeringwheels removed.

Figure 5 is a plan view cf another construction of front axle.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the front axle construction shown inFigurel 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an electric current pick-up.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of another form of bi-lateralguiding device,

Figure 9 shows in cross-section a further form of 'bi-lateral guidingdevice.

Figure 10 illustrates relative positions which c-an be assumed by thefront and rear axles during the continuance of the guiding action.

Figure 11 is a part sectional elevation of an electric motor drivingunit.

Figure l2 is a plan of Figure ll.

In the drawings is illustrated a model or miniature automobile but thegeneral shape of the body or cover may be adapted to simulate othercongurations such as those appertaining tol airplanes, airships, motorboats, etc. while retaining the characteristics of the invention. Sincethe Vehicles are intended to travel at high so as to emulatethe thrillsassociated with motor car racing, the construction of the vehiclespresents problems or requirements of an engineering character notusually met with in game apparatus; they must be reliable under the highstresses set up by the high speeds to avoid breakdown, and controversybetween players during the progress ofi a race.

A construction which takes the shape and form of a miniature motor carof the racing type is shown in Figures 1 and 2 wherein the modelcomprises a body I, a rear axle and wheel unit 2, an electric drivingunit motor 3, and a front axle unit 4'.

The body is built up or composed of two main parts the upper of whichdenoted by 5 acts asV a c over andis shaped in imitation of the streamline formation of a racing motor car, while the lower part forms theplatform 6' or backbone of the structure whereon are mounted theelectric motor 3 and the front axle unit 4. Sheet metal may be adoptedas the basic material for the upper body part 5 or as shown a mouldedcomposition may be used and provided with moulded-in inserts 1 tapped toreceive holding screws 8 at front and rear. As an alternative, dowels 3ashown in the fragmentary view at the right of Figure 1 may be moulded inthe platform member ii to engage plain holes in the inserts 'l withpushfit limits to facilitate quick access to the mechanism of thedriving unit. The body front 9 is sloped backwards to reduce headresistance and formed at It with an inclined locating ledge. Forconvenience, the dividing plane I2 of the two body parts passeshorizontally through the centre of the rear axle, support for which isnot provided directly from the body but indirectly by way of theelectric driving unit as will be described more particularlyhereinafter. A clearance aperture l l is disposed half in the upper bodypart 5 and half in the platform part 6 to allow freedom for rotation ofthe rear live axle.

To permit of the vehicle negotiating the curves or corners at high speedwithout overturning except under extreme conditions, a controlled degreeof freedom is desirable in the coupling between the front axle unit andthe Vmain structure, and one simple illustrated construction which meetsthe required conditions comprises a pin and hole connection inconjunction with resilient material. In the construction shown, a pin i3is fixed in the front axle structure and the hole M is provided in aforward extension of the lower body part 6 with sufficient clearance toallow of the required amount of relative universal movement between theconnected parts. Such relative displacement of the front and rear axlesis shown in Figure 10 in which the rear axle is horizontal and the frontaxle inclined, the former being able to supply the driving movementwhich propels the vehicle while the latter unit continues to hold thevehicle to its pre-determined path. Control of the relative of the twoaxles is exercised by a pair of coiled compression springs I6, l1Figures l and 1), placed one above the platform extension l5 and theother placed intermediate the platform extension and the axle structure.Such springs are put into a state of compression before the initial runof the vehicle and the force exerted by them may be varied by means ofan adjustable abutment such as a nut i8 with a locknut I9 screwed on tothe upper end of the upstanding pin I3.

In Figures 5 and 6 are illustrated means for frictional damping of therelative movement between the front axle unit and the main structureconsisting of a resilient frictional pad 2i) of rubber or the like.

The front axle structure extends outwardly to carry the stub axles 2| onwhich the road wheels 22 are journalled and may in addition incorporatethe means by which electrical contact is made between the moving vehicleand the conductor rails to which electric current is supplied. Suchelectric contact means may be adapted to guide the vehicle along thedesigned path while permitting of slewing or side-slipping of the rearof the vehicle when lateral skidding occurs on the curves or corners.With this object in view, the front axle structure may be provided withcontact slippers 23 Figures 3, Ll, and 'l hinged at 24 to the forwardpart of the axle bed or beam '25 and caused to press inwardly againstthe re1- evant Contact rail by a spring 26 conveniently of the coiledcompression type looped over upright insulated pillars 2 on the slipperbody. Channel section is suitable for the forward part of the slipperarm and angle section for the rear part thereof which includes theslipper proper 28 curved to accommodate the various relative posi- 5tions of the axle structure and the guide-way during the travel of thevehicle. It will be seen from Figure 4 that the width across theoutsides of the trailing ends of the hinged arms 23 is less than thespace between the depending parts of the l0 front axle structureindicated at 29 by which the front of the car can either move bodily inrelation to the guide or the front axle can turn around the upstandingpin I3 without losing contact electrically or without ceasing to beguided by the guide-way. The spring 26 ensures that the two arms followthe movement of the vehicle in relation to the guide-way, but underextreme conditions it will yield and the vehicle may overturn in asimilar manner to that which occurs in full scale motor car racing. Thegame is rendered more spectacular by this provision and some measure ofsafety is obtained for the electric driving device by the interruptionof the electric supply when the contacts are broken.

While the foregoing description indicates how a vehicle may beconstrained to follow a prescribed path in a more or less horizontalplane, it is desirable to incorporate means whereby the front of thevehicle is prevented from leaving 30 the guide-way in an upwarddirection so that 'the only direction in which the vehicle has completefreedom of movement is lengthwise oi the track. Means of this charactermay be combined with or form part of the electric current pick-updevice, and in Figure 3 a horizontally-projecting tongue 3@ on thepivoted contact arm 23 is positioned at the lower edgev of the slipperface 28 to operate by engagement with the under side or face of theconductor rail 3l and so hold down the front 40 of the vehicle unlesssubjected to forces of a suhciently high order to overturn the vehicle.Current is conveyed from the contact slippers to the electric motorthrough suitable leads 32 soldered or otherwise iixed to the pivotedarm.

A construction in which the guiding means are separate from the currentpick-up means is illustrated in Figure 8 wherein the bi-lateral guidingmeans comprise a headed member of T cross-section marked 33 in Figure 8and one of L section 50 in Figure 9 marked 34, arranged to engage a slotor groove in the guide rail 3% or St. The electric current pick-up meansmay in this case be simplecurved strips 3l disposed to press yieldinglyor springily on the conductor rails 38, and maintain contact therewithduring the lateral and lengthwise movements of the front of the machine.

I have illustrated two different types of front axle, one of which isbuilt up of steel with attached parts oi insulating material while the50 other is produced by a moulding process. In an example of the lattershown in Figures 3 and 4, the axle beam 25 and stub axles 2l areintegrated as a moulded composition body which enables a realistic shapeto be imparted to the axle; the metallic stub axles andthe coupling pinI3 are roughened or shaped polygonally at their ends to ensure effectiveiixation in the moulded composition in a manner known in the art. Assuch material, usually a synthetic resin or ormaldehyde product, has ahigh specic resistance to the passage of electric currents, the pivotedmembers by which electric contact is made can be mounted directly on anextension of the axle beam. In another construction shown in Figures 5and 6, 75

the axle structure comprises a transverse metal bar 39 upswept at itsends to form the stub axles;'two longitudinal spaced strips 46 of fibreor other insulating material to the front ends of which the contact armsare hinged; and a llat connecting plate 4|` of metal for joining theaxle bar and the fibre strips conveniently by means of screws 42.

` In the interest of standardization, the road wheels are preferablyduplicate blanks with an appropriate variation introduced to" adapt themeither for running free on the stub axles 2| for use as front steeringwheels 22, or for xing to the live rear axle 43 to function as drivingwheels 44.` 'Metalor mouldedcomposition may be used bust in eithermaterial it is desirable to include ribbed brake drums45, to provide aconoidal formation 46 on theouter face of the wheel, and to cantorincline the stub axles so that the model follows closely the lines of aracing car. The front wheelsmay beheld on to their stub axles in alateralV sense by collars 41 screwed, pegged, soldered or otherwise xedin position, while a convenient driving xing for the rear wheelsconsists of a polygonal recess 48 in the inner face of the hub, la nut49 fixed by screw to the axle shaft, and .a nut 56 on the end of thesaid axle shaft. This method is suitable fo-r a wheel of mouldedmaterialbut for a metal wheel, the hub may be tapped. to engage thethread on the shaft end.

VrThe coupling between the front axle unit and the main structure 'ofthe car may be situated at a point substantially in alignment withthe'axes of `thestee`ringwheels to'4', or as shown in. Figure 5 thecoupling point may be arranged rearward of the said axes. If a trailingaction is desired, the coupling point is placed in advance of thesteering wheel axes.4

4It is preferred to space the rear driving wheels 44 so that the trackor width between the wheels is less-than the track of the steeringwheels 22. The electric driving unit must be able to meet the conditionsof high speed developed by the miniature machines and the possibility ofdamage through overturning, and in Figures 11 and l2 the unit isconstructed so that the horseshoe type of permanent magnet constitutesthe foundation on which the mechanism is built. Said magnet 5| rests o-nthe floor 52 of the platform body part 6 and is iixed thereto by screwsand brackets 53 which may be extended to form bearer bars 54 forjournally supporting the armature shaft 55 and the live driving axle 43.Lubrication of these small bearings is an. important factor in the lifeof the unit, and provision is made for supplying oil continuously and ina manner easy of replenishment by the incorporation-of absorbent pads 56of felt or other suitable material convveniently held in position bytongues of springy material 51 which press on the outer face of thepads. The latter are in contact with the ends of the armature shaft 55and encircle the live driving axle 43.

Appropriate brush gear for conveying current to the commutator 59includes a pair of arms 60 hinged at one end toi an H-section bre block6| andprovided at their free ends with brushes 62; springs 63 applypressure to the brushes to maintain them in Contact with the commutator59, and current-carrying leads 64 are soldered or otherwise xed toextensions 65 on the arms 6|).l

Gearing for reducing the i velocity ratio conveniently comprises a pairof spur wheels the smaller one 66 of which is fixed to the armatureshaft while the larger one 61 is secured tothe rear live axle 43.

By my invention is provided a vehicle capable of high speed travel withmechanical and electrical reliability; capable of executing lateralsideslips on the curves or corners of the track while being held to itscourse in respect to the front part of the vehicle; and in generalembodying appearance and other characteristics associated with racingmotor cars whereby the players are enabled to participate in and enjoythe thrills of motor car racing'but in an inexpensive manner nothitherto available.

lHaving described my invention, what I claim 1s:-

l. A miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race gamecomprising in combination, a rear driving axle, an electric motoroperatively connected to said rear axle, a front steering axle, and aspring-controlled guiding means which im holds the front of the vehiclebi-laterally to a guide and permits of a restricted amount of lateralmovement of the front of the vehicle relative to said guide.

2. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle unit comprising in combination, stub axles for journallycarrying the road wheels, an axle beam supporting said stub axles, meansof articulation on said beam for coupling to the vehicle structure, anda pair of :to spaced yieldingly-mounted current pick-up and guiding-devices on said axle beam for co-operation with a guide.

3. In a miniature automobile orlike vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle unit comprising in combination, stub axles for journallycarrying the road wheels, an axle beam supporting said stub axles, meansof articulation on said beam for coupling to the vehicle structure, apair of currentpick-up and guiding arms hinged to said axle beam, aspring tending t-o close said arms on to a guide, and stops on said armsto co-operate with the axle beam and limit the lateral move- .ment ofsaid arms in relation to the said axle beam. 45

4. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle unit comprising in combination stub axles, an axle membersupporting said stub axles, means of articulation on said axle forcoupling to the vehicle structure, a pair of spaced yieldingly-mountedcurrent pickup devices at the front of the vehicle, and a bilateralguiding device at the front of the vehicle for coi-operation with aguide.

5. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle, an axle bed plate secured to said axle, a pair of parallelspaced insulating members attached to said axle bed plate,

a pair of spaced current pick-up and guiding arms hinged on saidinsulating members, and means of articulation on said bed plate forcoupling to the vehicle structure.

6. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, amoulded front axle bed plate, stub axles inserted in said bed plate, apair of integral strips disposed longitudinally on said bed plate, apair of spaced current pick-up and guiding arms hinged on said bedplate, and means of articulation on said bed plate for coupling to thevehicle structure. 70

7. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle, a pair of spaced yieldingly-mounted current pick-up deviceson said axle for contact with conductor rails, a guiding device on saidaxle for co-operation with a guide, an articulated coupling permittinguniversal movement between the said iront axle and the vehiclestructure, resilient means for restraining movement of said coupling,and stops for posiltively limiting the movement of said coupling.

8. In a race game employing a plurality of electrically-drivenautomobile or like vehicle, the combination in a vehicle, of a reardriving axle, driving road wheels thereon, means for self-steering thevehicle comprising a guide, a front steering axle, steering road wheelsjournalle-d thereon, means positioned at the front of the vehicle toengage bi-laterally with said guide to render the vehicle self-steering,means of articulation between the said front axle and the vehiclestructure to allow the rear wheels to slew in relation to the frontwheels and to contact with said guide, and current pick-up meanspositioned at the front of the vehicle.

9. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle, means of articulation on said axle for coupling to thevehicle structure, a pair of spaced yieldingly-mounted current pick-upand guiding devices on said axle for cao-operation with a guide, andmeans projecting horizontally from each of said guiding devices forengagement with a horizontally-projecting part of said guide to resistupward movement of said axle in relation to the ground.

10. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle, means of articulation on said axle for coupling to thevehicle structure, a pair of spaced yieldinglymounted current pick-upand guiding devices on said axle for co-operation with a guide, each ofsaid guiding devices including an arm hinged at one end to the axle onan upright axis, a spring attached to said arms tending to close them onto said guide, and a horizontally-projecting tongue at the free end ofeach of said armsy for engagement with a horizontally-projecting part ofsaid guide to resist upward movement of said axle in relation to theground.

1l. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle, means of articulation on said axle ir coupling to thevehicle structure, a pair of spaced arms hinged at one end to the axleon an upright axis, and resilient means tending to close said arms on toa guide. 5

12. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle for use in a race game, afront axle, means of articulation on said axle for coupling to thevehicle structure, a pair of spaced arms hinged at one end to the axleon an upright axis, L shaped-contact pads at the free ends of said arms,a spring anchorage on each of said arms, and a spring attached to saidanchorages tending to close said arms on to a guide.

13. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle l5 for use in a race game,a front axle for journally carrying the road wheels, a pair of spacedyieldingly-mounted current pick-up and guiding devices on said axle forco-operation with a guide, and means of articulation on said axle forcoupling to the vehicle structure having a body part, said articulationmeans comprising an upstanding pin on the axle, a clearance hole in thebody part encircling said pin, a spring abutment at the upper end ofsaid pin, a spring positioned intermediate said spring abutment and theupper horizontal face of said body part, and a spring positioned betweenthe lower horizontal face of said body part and the said axle.

' 14. In a miniature automobile or like vehicle 30 for use in a racegame, a front axle for journally carrying the road wheels, a pair ofspaced yieldingly-mounted current pick-up and guiding devices on saidaxle for co-operation with a guide, and means of articulation on saidaxle for coupling to the vehicle structure having a body part comprisinga pivot pin upstanding from said axle, a clearance hole in the body partencircling said pin, a spring abutment at the upper end of said pin, aspring positioned intermediate said 40 spring abutment and said bodypart, and a frictional damping pad insertedl between the underside ofsaid body part and the said axle member.

PATRICK GILBERT KNNEDY.

